The Texas Transportation Commission approved awarding $95.1 million to the state’s rural and small urban transit agencies. The funds come from state and federal resources and will support agencies in the state, transporting Texans to jobs, healthcare and education.
These funds will go towards 79 public transportation providers and planning agencies across the state to operate and maintain a critical network of integrated mobility services, including:
- East Texas Council of Governments, Tyler and Longview are working together to provide a seamless network of transportation services through a combination of state and federal grant programs that address the diverse needs of their communities.
- Bluebonnet Trails Community Services will be employing around-the-clock language services, allowing mobility managers to supply better coordinated transit for non-English speaking individuals.
- Rolling Plains Management Corporation is constructing an Administrative and Operations Center to house its SHARP Lines Rural Public Transportation dispatch, administration and training activities. The new facility includes approximately 6,000 square feet of office space attached to the existing bus storage and maintenance building in Crowell, Texas. The new facility provides a safe and efficient office and training space large enough to accommodate additional drivers, fleet maintenance and dispatch administrative staff.
In a release explaining the funding, Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) shared the story of Uvalde resident Jennifer Gilleland, who was born with cerebral palsy and utilized the rural bus service provided by Southwest Area Regional Transit District to travel 90 miles each way to class as she worked on her college degree. TxDOT noted her ability to access opportunities through transit has continued as she traveled the nation, even using the bus to go skydiving in Miami.
TxDOT explains the funding awarded this week supports agencies like Southwest Area Regional Transit District that provided a path for Gilleland to reach her dream of getting two college degrees through a comprehensive outreach, travel training and partnership with healthcare case-management programs.
"Rural communities and surrounding areas can sometimes have limited options for transportation, and these transit agencies provide a lifeline for those who need it most,” Texas Transportation Commissioner Alvin New said. “This funding will help make sure Texans can get to where they need to go safely and reliably.”
The full list of funding awards is available through TxDOT's website.
